Memorial flower holder markers



Jan. 15, 1957 A. E. BRANDHORST 2,777,233

MEMORIAL FLOWER HOLDER MARKERS Filed Jan. 27, 19 55 2 Shets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 56M!) 5. BRfl/VDWRST BY 8 g V 1957 A. E. BRANDHORST 2,777,233

MEMORIAL FLOWER HOLDER MARKERS 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1955 H5. 4 2a F/ 7 I as fww

fiTTOR/VE Y United States Patent-fiflice r 2,777,233 MEMORIAL FLOWER HOLDER MARKERS Alma E. BrandhorsaCincinnati, Ohio Application January 27, 1955, Serial No. 484,443

4 Claims. or. 41-40 The invention relates to means particularly, although not exclusively, adapted to permanently contain artificial flowers on a grave of a deceased. I

Heretofore, considerable difliculty, inconvenience and trouble has been experienced by relatives of deceased persons who desire to place on graves ornamental displays as containers for permanent decorations, as artificial flowers. This is so because all memorial burial cemeteries have strict rules and regulations governing the design and type of markers permitted on graves. Simplicity and uniformity are the chief objects of such rules and regulations. Moreover,,ce'metery managements desire to avoid the use of unattractive containers for flowers and also desire to avoid use of flower containers which after some use will be unattractive; readily permit thieves to desecrate the containers and steal flowers therein; and present dilficulties to cemetery attendants who are employed to keep the cemetery premises neat and attractive.

7 Therefore, an important object of my invention is to provide simple, effective and economical means by which artificial flowers are displayed on graves and enclosed in transparent containers with means to prevent thieves from stealing the flowers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ornamental flower container or displayer which serves the dual purpose of a marker and a flower holder.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means to contain concealed ashes of a deceased in combination with decorative means plainly visible to all persons.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the combination of the elements, arrangement of parts and in the details of the construction, as hereinafter claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention installed in a grave;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the invention with the rectangular frame in open position;

Fig. 6 is the same with the rectangular framev in closed position; and with the globe removed;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 in Fig. 8, and showing the modification incorporated in a grave; and

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 in Fig. 2.

In the preferred construction of the invention, I pro vide the spherical transparent container or globe 1 formed from glass, or other suitable transparent material, having a lower threaded open end 2 which is adapted to be manually screwed into the rectangular base 3 having the circular hole 4 therein, the Walls 5 of which have the threads 5' to receive the threaded open end 2 of the globe 1.

Suitably fixed to the bottom 6, of the base 3, is the vertical tube 7 which extends upwardly in the hole 4, for purposes hereinafter fully explained.

Patented Jan. 15, 1957 The base 3 is received on, and is supported by the rectangular horizontal support or plate 8 having the holes 9 and lllin the oppositely disposed corners f9 and 10. Received in the holes 9 and 10, and extending downwardly from the plate 8,. are the vertical L-shape rods 11 and 12, having their lower ends formed L-shape. The rods 11 and 12 are embedded in concrete 13 which preferably is in a hole 14 in the ground 15 at the head of a grave 16. The plate 8 rests on the concrete 13. The purpose of the rods 11 and 12 being received in the concrete 13 is to permanently and securely fasten the invention in its selected location.

The upper end 17 of the rod 12 protrudes upwardly from the plate 8 and'has hingedly connectedtherewith the ends 18 and 19, of the legs 20 and 21, of the L-shape arms 22 and 23, shown in Fig. 7, thereby. forming the rectangular frame 23'. The arms 22 and 23 have the legs 24 and 25 bent at right angles to the legs 20 and 21. The ends 26 and 27 of the legs 24 and 25 are bent at an angle-to the legs 24 and 25 and have the holes 28 and 29 therein.

The L-shape arms 22 and 23 are in .closed position when, as shown in Fig. 6, the ends 26 and 27 contact the upper rectangular end 11 of the rod 11 which has the hole 11" therein. When the arms 22 and 23 are in closed position, the rectangular area between the legs 20 and 21 and the legs 24 and 25 is substantially equal to the area of the upper surface of the base 3 which is normally supported by the plate 8 and positioned between the arms 22 and 23 and in the frame 23.

Integrally connected with upper edges of the legs 21 and 24, of the arms 22 and 23, are the lips 30 and 31 which extend inwardly of the arins 22 and 23 and the plate 8, and over the adjacent sides of the rectangular base 3.

Welded to the leg 21 of the arm 23, and adjacent the lip 30, is the lower end 32 of the upwardly extended arm 33 which is curved inwardly of the plate 8 and has the upper curved end 34 normally'positiond above. and in close proximity to the top 35 of the globe 1. A suitable pad-lock 36 has its locking-bar 37 received through the holes 28 and 29 in the ends 26 and 27 of the arms 22 and 23 to prevent thieves and other unauthorized persons from moving the hinged arms 22 and 23 from the positions shown in Fig. 6, whereby the globe 1 is securely locked in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

Fixed, by suitable adhesives, to the inner surface of the globe 1 is the identification or name plate 38 on which is printed or inscribed the name 38' of the deceased whose remains are buried in the grave 16 on which the invention is permanently aflixed. The name plate being inside the globe 1 is unaffected by weather conditions, and eliminating thenormal necessity of having a relatively, expensive stone marker, with the decedents name inscribed thereon, installed on the grave.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The padlock 36 is manually unlocked and its bar 37 is removed from the holes 28 and 29 in the ends 26 and 27 of the legs 24 and 25 of the arms 22 and 23. Then the arms 22 and 23 are manuallyforced apart to the position shown in Fig. 5. The stems 39 of artificial flowers 40, preferably, are inserted into the tube 7. Then the threaded lower end or bottom 2 of the gobe 1 is manually screwed into the hole 4 of the threaded base- 3. Then the base 3 is manually placed on the plate 8 and the arms 22 and 23 are manually closed to the positions shown in Fig. 6 with lips 30 and31 extending over the base 3 and the curved end 34 of the arm 33 is positioned over the top of the globe 1. Then the bar .37 of the pad-lock is inserted into and 0 through the holes 28 and '29 in the ends 26 and 27 of the legs 24 and 25 of the arms 22 and 23, and through the hole 11 in the end 11' of the rod 11. Then the padlock is locked whereby the globe 1 is prevented from being removed from the base 3 by thieves, or other unauthorized persons, since the lips 30 and 31 extend over the base 3, and the curved arm 33 is directly above and in close proximity to the top of the globe 1.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a modification of the invention having suitably fixed between the rods ll and 12, as by welding to the arms, the receptacle 41 which contains the, ashes of a deceased person whose name can be inscribed on the identification plate 38.

While I believe that the form of the invention illus-- trated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is efficient and practicable, yet realizing that the'conditions concurrent with the adoption and utilization of my invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that changes in the details may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desireto. secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A memorial unit comprising a rectangular plate, a pair of vertical L-shape rods connected with the oppositely disposed corners of said plate and extending downwardly, the end of one of said rods extending upwardly of said plate, a rectangular frame formed in two L-shape arms and having lips extending inwardly of said frame, said arms being hingedly connected with the said upwardly extending end of said one of said rods, whereby said frame iscapable of being manually opened and closed, the other ends of said arms being bent at angles and having holes therein, and. adapted to contact each other when said frame is in closed position, a padlock having its bar received in said holes to lock said frame in closed position when said pad-lock is in locked position, a rectangular base received between the arms in said frame and being supported by said plate and said lips extending over said base when said frame is in closed position to prevent said base being removed from said frame, and said base having a hole in its upper surface, a vertical tube in said hole and being fixed to said base and extending upwardly therefrom to receive stems of flowers, the walls of said hole in said base being threaded, a transparent globe having a lower open threaded end through which said stems and flowers extend upwardly into said globe, said threaded end of said globe capable of being screwed into said threads of said walls of said hole in said base, and an upwardly extending arm fixed to one of said arms of said frame and being curved inwardly of said base and extending over the top of said globe in close proximity thereto to prevent said globe being removed from said base when said support is in closed position, a receptacle containing the remaining ashes of a deceased person fixed to said rods, and an identification plate fixed to the inner surface of said globe.

2. A memorial unit comprising a rectangular plate, a pair of vertical L-shape rods connected with the oppositely disposed corners of said plate, the end of one of said rods extending upwardly of said plate, a rectangular frame formed in two L-shape arms and having lips extending inwardly of said frame, said arms being hingedly connected with the said upwardly extending end of said one of said rods, whereby said frame is capable of being manually opened and closed, the other ends of said arms being bent at angles and having holes therein, and adapted to contact each other when said frame is in closed position, a pad-lock having its bar received in said holes to lock said frame in closed position when said pad-lock is in locked position, a rectangular base received between the arms in said frame and being supported by said plate and said lips extending over said base when said frame is in closed position to prevent said base being removed from said frame, and said base having a hole in its upper surface, a vertical tube in said hole and being fixed to said base, and extending upwardly therefrom to receive stems of flowers, and the walls of said hole in said base 4 being threaded, a transparent globe having a lower open threaded end through which said stems and flowers extend upwardly into said globe, said threaded end of said globe capable of being screwed into said threads of said walls of said hole in said base, and an upwardly extending arm fixed to one of said arms of said frame and being curved inwardly of said base and extending over the top of said globe in close proximity thereto to prevent said globe being removed from said base when said support is in closed position.

3. A device of the kind described and comprising a rectangular plate, a pair of vertical L-shape rods connected with the oppositely disposed corners of said plate, the end of one of said rods extending upwardly of said plate, a rectangular frame formed in two L-shape arms and having lips extending inwardly of said frame, said arms being hingedly connected with the said upwardly extending end of said one of said rods, whereby said frame is capable of being manually opened and closed, the other ends of said arms having holes therein, a pad lock having its bar received in said holes to lock said frame in closed position when said pad-lock is in locked position, a rectangular base received between the arms in said frame and said lips extending over said base when said frame is in closed position to prevent said base being removed from said frame, and said base having a hole in its upper surface, a vertical tube in said hole and being fixed to said base to receive stems of flowers, and the walls of said hole in said base being threaded, a transparent container having a lower open threaded end through which said stems and flowers extend upwardly into said container, said threaded end of said container capable of being screwed into said threads of said walls of said hole in said base, and an upwardly extending arm fixed to one of said arms of said frame and being curved inwardly of said base and extending over the top of said container in close proximity thereto to prevent said container being removed from said base when said support is in closed position.

4. A device of the kind described and comprising a rectangular plate, a pair of rods connected with the oppositely disposed corners of said plate, the end of one of said rods extending upwardly of said plate, a rectangular frame formed in two L.-shape arms and having lips extending inwardly of said frame, said arms being hingedly connected with the said upwardly extending end of said one of said rods, whereby said frame is capable of being manually opened and closed, the other ends of said arms having holes therein, apad-lock having its bar received in said holes to lock said frame in closed position when said paddock is in locked position, a base received in said frame and said lips extending over said base when said frame is in closed position to prevent said base being removed from said frame, and said base having a hole in its upper surface, a vertical tube being fixed to said base to receive stems of flowers, and the walls of said hole in said base being threaded, a container having a threaded end through which said stems and flowers extend upwardly into said container, said threaded end of said container being capable of being screwed into said threads of said walls of said hole in said base, and an upwardly extending arm fixed to one of said arms of said frame and being curved inwardly of said base and extending over the top of said container in close proximity thereto to prevent said container being removed from said base when said support is in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 4,332 Bonnell Apr. 11, 1871 Re. 20,289 Simpson Mar. 9, 1937 Re. 23,625 Bussert Mar. 10, 1953 1,427,180 Welch Aug. 29, 1922 2,686,642 Dobarganes et al Aug. 17, 1954 

